Celebrating Jane Austen in the Scenic South

While not widely known in her own time, Jane Austen is now considered one of the greatest writers in English history. With 2017 marking the 200th anniversary of her death, we discover many of the picturesque and historic locations that were the setting and inspiration for some of her most famous works, giving us a glimpse of life from a bygone era.

Norton Park Hotel

The Norton Park Hotel is situated on the outskirts of Winchester. Set in 54 acres of peaceful grounds, the hotel blends historical elegance with contemporary chic. Facilities include modern bedrooms, a restaurant, bar and lounge plus a large leisure complex and spa with indoor pool, sauna, steam room and gym.

Excursion One - Bath, Jane Austen Walking Tour & Dyrham ParkHome to Jane Austen in the early 1800s, the city of Bath has remained faithful to its Regency roots, with an abundance of elegant terraces, circuses and squares in a picturesque valley setting. We enjoy a guided Jane Austen themed walking tour to view the highlights of the city that features so much in her writing as well as her former homes. After our tour, we have time to explore the city at leisure.

Built in the late 17th century, Dyrham Park is a spectacular Baroque house set in over 250 acres of ancient parkland. The house contains a range of fine textiles and paintings and reflects a number of styles, from the original 17th-century, Dutch-inspired interiors to Victorian refurbishment.

Excursion Two - Winchester and Winchester Cathedral & StourheadWe start the day with a literary-themed guided tour of the medieval city of Winchester. The hidden treasures of the awe-inspiring cathedral include the tomb of Jane Austen and the Winchester Bible, one of the finest 12th-century bibles to have survived.

Stourhead is renowned for its 18th-century landscaped garden, featured in the 2005 film Pride and Prejudice, and is a delight of classical temples, exotic trees, hidden grottos and a magnificent lake. The grand Palladian house is no less of a draw, with its Chippendale furniture and one of the finest Regency libraries left in existence.

Excursion Three - Loseley Park, Chawton House & Jane Austen’s House MuseumWe make our way to Loseley Park. Built in the reign of Elizabeth I, this historic manor house has been home to the More-Molyneux family for over 500 years and remains remarkably unchanged. This is most notable in the Great Hall which contains intricate panelling from Henry VIII's Nonsuch Palace, a minstrel's gallery and a collection of royal and family portraits.

We then travel to Chawton House, an Elizabethan manor house that once belonged to Jane Austen’s brother, Edward Austen Knight. It now accommodates a unique library of titles focusing on women’s writing in English from 1600 to 1830.

Continuing our Jane Austen theme, we visit Jane Austen’s House Museum, the charming house in Chawton where she spent the last eight years of her life. This is where she did the majority of her mature writing and now tells the story of the author and her family.

Take advantage of our brand new, stress free departure option of "Club Class Home Collection Service". With this luxury service, a uniformed chauffeur will collect you from home and transfer you to the hotel, airport or cruise port in top specification cars or MPV's then at the end of your holiday they will be waiting to whisk you home again.

Please note: On some journeys we may collect other customers en-route who are travelling on the same holiday as yourself. The maximum number of pickups would be your plus two more with a maximum of six people in the vehicle. Journeys over 2.5 hours will include comfort breaks and complimentary bottles water is provided. All vehicles are fitted with satellite navigation and tracking devices. Service available from addresses in mainland England only, one pickup per booking. Service operating in partnership with Club Class Chauffeurs.

Excursion One - Bath, Jane Austen Walking Tour & Dyrham ParkHome to Jane Austen in the early 1800s, the city of Bath has remained faithful to its Regency roots, with an abundance of elegant terraces, circuses and squares in a picturesque valley setting. We enjoy a guided Jane Austen themed walking tour to view the highlights of the city that features so much in her writing as well as her former homes. After our tour, we have time to explore the city at leisure.

Built in the late 17th century, Dyrham Park is a spectacular Baroque house set in over 250 acres of ancient parkland. The house contains a range of fine textiles and paintings and reflects a number of styles, from the original 17th-century, Dutch-inspired interiors to Victorian refurbishment.

Excursion Two - Winchester and Winchester Cathedral & StourheadWe start the day with a literary-themed guided tour of the medieval city of Winchester. The hidden treasures of the awe-inspiring cathedral include the tomb of Jane Austen and the Winchester Bible, one of the finest 12th-century bibles to have survived.

Stourhead is renowned for its 18th-century landscaped garden, featured in the 2005 film Pride and Prejudice, and is a delight of classical temples, exotic trees, hidden grottos and a magnificent lake. The grand Palladian house is no less of a draw, with its Chippendale furniture and one of the finest Regency libraries left in existence.

Excursion Three - Loseley Park, Chawton House & Jane Austen’s House MuseumWe make our way to Loseley Park. Built in the reign of Elizabeth I, this historic manor house has been home to the More-Molyneux family for over 500 years and remains remarkably unchanged. This is most notable in the Great Hall which contains intricate panelling from Henry VIII's Nonsuch Palace, a minstrel's gallery and a collection of royal and family portraits.

We then travel to Chawton House, an Elizabethan manor house that once belonged to Jane Austen’s brother, Edward Austen Knight. It now accommodates a unique library of titles focusing on women’s writing in English from 1600 to 1830.

Continuing our Jane Austen theme, we visit Jane Austen’s House Museum, the charming house in Chawton where she spent the last eight years of her life. This is where she did the majority of her mature writing and now tells the story of the author and her family.

Take advantage of our brand new, stress free departure option of "Club Class Home Collection Service". With this luxury service, a uniformed chauffeur will collect you from home and transfer you to the hotel, airport or cruise port in top specification cars or MPV's then at the end of your holiday they will be waiting to whisk you home again.

Please note: On some journeys we may collect other customers en-route who are travelling on the same holiday as yourself. The maximum number of pickups would be your plus two more with a maximum of six people in the vehicle. Journeys over 2.5 hours will include comfort breaks and complimentary bottles water is provided. All vehicles are fitted with satellite navigation and tracking devices. Service available from addresses in mainland England only, one pickup per booking. Service operating in partnership with Club Class Chauffeurs.